I am so over the 120 degree heat.

 Now that that's out of the way, I'm back! That was too long to go without posting anything!
I actually wrote a blog post back in August, but Blogger was being weird and slow and I never got to post it. And since I spent the last 30 minutes messing around on my settings, I'm going to use part of it because I want to go to bed :). Please don't judge, it's 10:30 at night. On a Saturday. 

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Let's see, LOTS of updating to do! I finally figured out how to fix my title (thank you Google), so now it's perfectly aligned and my OCD-self can look at it without getting an eye twitch. I also last wrote over a month ago, so updating here we come:


1.) We started a budget! Whoohoo! Any young 20-somethings reading this just collectively yawned and hit the close button, but this is big stuff! I do love to be thrifty, and instead of looking at the budget as a horrible list of  "You can't buy this", I'm trying to learn to look at it as a list of "Be more creative in how you buy".
Hard? Yes. Worth it? Talk to me next month, I've already messed up once but was saved by the Grace of God and some garage sale earnings :).

2.) It is HOT. Watching the weather used to be my favorite part of the news, and now I can't bear to watch it. It's been 100 degrees and hotter for more than 51 days or something crazy horrible like that.
I can't wait for fall.

3.) I went thru a major craft episode. I know once fall gets here, my glue gun will be back in full force. Until then, some pics:

My sister in law's baby shower invites: I did "borrow" the ribbon idea from a post I found online and the brown paper idea from my friend Grace. Add in a Bag 'O Buttons from Hobby Lobby and voila! Baby shower magic.


 Poms for Wyatt's room, more pics to follow :)

3.) Our house is slowly being invaded by ants. Another least favorite thing about August in Texas: bugs. In your house looking for water. In places they should not be found, like the kitchen and on the living room floor at 6:20 in the morning, making you slightly late for work because you had to stop walking out the door and vacuum the living room to show them who's boss.
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Also, college football started last night, thank the Lord. Now all I need is a hoodie and some 50 degree weather and I'm all set for fall!
Speaking of fall, and last thing before I hit the sack, we had family pictures taken in August, dressed in jeans and in "fall-ish" colors so we could use them for our Christmas cards. August. Fall. Christmas. Texas heat at 8 in the morning. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all, but bottom line they turned out AMAZING, a huge thank you again to KAJ Photography :). Seriously, Kim, you have an amazing gift, and if I could print all of them to hang in the house, I would!
Here's some more of my fav's:

Love them. And I love all the close ups of his face; sometimes when he's eating I like to lean in close to try and soak every detail in, but that usually results in getting poked in the nose by a slimy little finger. :)
Happy Labor Day, friends!

Houston, We Have Lift Off!

Quick post because I'm supposed to be grocery shopping right now before W wakes up from his nap -- guess who army crawled all over the living room this morning?!?!

 

This kid!! We've been working on it since his last check up to avoid an ECI referral :), and he finally crawled without screaming his head off! Still working on getting all 4 extremities (sorry for the work lingo) coordinated at the same time, but he is officially mobile! So Mom Mom and Dada are officially scrambling to baby proof the house! So far this morning, he's managed to find and attempt to open a Bible sitting on the floor, grab at cobwebs I didn't know were under the table, and attempt to manhandle and pull the ironing board around with him -- which, of course, he succeeded at doing because his mama forgot he has Man Strength. 

Later this morning, he managed to kick his full-of-poop diaper off the changing table, getting poop all over his foot, in between his toes, all down the wall and diaper genie, a stuffed monkey, and of course, his Mom Mom. This was all before 8am, and all before I had 2 sips of coffee, so I'm surprised I was even functioning.

Thursday, when he was still laying on his tummy and screaming while he tried to crawl, he managed to find and try to eat 2 non-edible items : one tiny piece of foil covering from the half and half carton, and something green and "leafy" that probably came from the ears of corn we ate last weekend. Both were scooped from his mouth after I realized the screaming had suddenly turned into chewing. 

If my Mama is reading this, this is all just a joke, my house is spotless at all times and my floors are never dirty :). 

He is also in a major "snuggle with Mom Mom" phase, which I am loving because I know in the back of my mind he'll be 16 before I know it and won't really want me constantly telling him how cute his chunker thighs are then. So yesterday after we got home from daycare, I was playing with him in his room and he pulled at me to pick him up. I stood him on my lap and he gave me the biggest smile ever. 

Then he pooped, growled at me, and licked my face. 

Have I mentioned how much I love having a little boy?!

Monday Funday

I usually hate when Wade says that, because Mondays are definitely NOT my fundays, but today was such a great day I just had to say it.

Why was today a great day, you ask??

Because this little guy took an hour and a half nap. At Daycare.

I almost said "Holla!" in front of Ms. Rosa when I picked him up today and she told me, but I didn't :). This was a MAJOR accomplishment, one that he really had no problem with a few short months ago. And he always naps like a champ at home. But lately I think he's finally realized there's so much to DO at Daycare, he'd rather play than sleep.
Making for a very cranky baby in the evenings for me and Dada to enjoy.
Ok I need just 5 seconds to baby talk about this picture:
"Wook at his wittle FACIE! He woves his food! Num num! Now say 'Mama'! Say 'Mama!' MAMA!"
And that's why he's looking at me all crazy. I love him. He's 9 months old today. It makes my heart happy and sad at the same time. Ah, motherhood, what sweet, intense emotions you bring.

In other news, I got a manicure this weekend, and ruined it as soon as I got in the car. Ugh. Maybe ruined is a bit dramatic there. I bumped my thumb on the sun visor getting into my car to go home, and smudged my cute hot-red/orange polish. But I sure did say, "ugh, ruined!". It gets worse. The next morning, after some awesome friend-neighbors dropped off farm-fresh tomatoes that taste like candy and have me convinced I need to start a garden PRONTO, I ran to Wal-Mart.

First mistake.

Actually, my first mistake was not buying Wyatt any food or formula when I went grocery shopping earlier in the week. And we all know how much the little chunker likes to eat. I tried to make my own baby food by blending organic chicken, brown rice, and chicken broth together. But I didn't get the consistency right and when we spooned it into his mouth, he didn't even chew, he just opened his mouth really wide and shoved it out with his tongue and looked at me like I was crazy.
Therefore, Wal-Mart. And second mistake.

After stocking up on baby food and kicking myself for not giving the chicken-and-brown-rice another go, I drove home and unloaded the car. When I reached to close the trunk, my fingernails caught the edge of it (ekk that gives me goosebumps again just thinking about it) and hot red/orange was transferred onto my silver paint.
And filthy black dirtness was transferred onto my nails. Gross.

Ugh. Ruined.

Then later that night, I tried to open my travel coffee mug and accidentally peeled off the other side of the 1st thumb trauma victim.

Life: 1. Manicure: 0.

I just realized the majority of this post was about me rambling on about my manicure. This is why I don't get these very often. Every time I chipped it, I would yell, "Ugh, ruined!" just to see what Wade would do.
His response was silence. Which is always tricky to read. I just take it as a sign to keep doing what I'm doing until I get a verbal response.

I also like to ask him what he's going to do when we have a little girl who's just like me one day. That always gets a major verbal response :).

Good night friends! I hope your Monday was also a Funday. And if not, praise God for Tuesdays!

Some Updates

Last night, I spent 5 minutes standing over my baby's crib listening to him laugh in his sleep.
I'm not sure which one of us was creepier.

It feels like forever since I've written anything, I'm going to try and do a quick recap, complete with photos, of course:

1.) Wyatt has a total of 6 teeth. Six. Thankfully, he's a good teether so far; I know the bigger the teeth get, though, that may change!

 

2.) My baby brother graduated from high school. I know, I cried too. I feel like it was just yesterday when my parents told us we were going to have another baby brother or sister. And I cried. Because that meant we were going to have to a.) sell my mom's brown Camry that always smelled so good and b.) our family would have an odd number of people. Dead serious, those were my two first thoughts. Any psychologists reading this, I am perfectly fine now and only have mild meltdowns whenever there's change. :) Anyway, baby Kevin came along and I couldn't imagine life without him. He has always been so full of life, and always does so good at anything he puts his mind to. Including climbing out of his crib when he was little, winning every kind of sports medal/trophy/whatever imaginable, and making his family very proud of him. Baby Kevin, I am so proud of you, and I can't wait to see what all God has in store for you!

 

3.) I feel like this season in my life has been one of stretching and growing and really learning and knowing what it means to wait on the Lord. I wish I could say it's been easy for me, but it hasn't. I've been learning to listen for God, and distinguish between Satan's voice of "you can't do this", "you aren't going to make it", and "things would be so much better if you were...", etc. The great Accuser.  "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy", the Bible says. He steals our joy, he steals life from us. He tries to destroy our hope, our faith. And then Jesus says, "I have come that you may have Life, and have it to the fullest." John 10:10.  He gives us Life!

Learning to hear God's voice, saying "Come to Me, trust Me, nothing is impossible for ME." Nothing is impossible for Him. Getting out of debt, having a child, wanting to do well at your job, NOTHING is impossible for Him. The desires of your heart that He gave you, they are not impossible. 

That's what God's been reminding me of this week, and it was too huge not to share! I heard this song yesterday and want to share it with ya'll; hope you like Hillsong as much as I do :). 

Happy Saturday! 

Day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere

Whoops, only on day 6 of this song challenge thing!
I had a great weekend: watched my sweet little chunker learn how to hold his bottle and recover from a nasty cough like a champ (praise GOD!), went to my very 1st Tupperware party (hilarious but so hard not to buy every single thing!), enjoyed early morning trips with our little family to HEB and Wal-Mart (you know you're a parent when you've completed all your errands by 10am), and wrapped up the weekend with a fun dinner/fellowship/playdate with great friends.

Can I choose to just keep Sunday night instead of trading it in for a Monday morning?

 

Day 6 is supposed to be a song that reminds you of somewhere. I tried to look up "Lubbock, TX in My Rearview Mirror", but I couldn't find a good version :). But this song is just as good; I discovered it towards the end of my senior year of high school, as I was getting ready to move to the middle of nowhere and figure out how to do my own laundry. This song came on the other day while I was in the cafeteria at work, and I said to one of my friends, "This reminds me of college." She replied, "What does...the drug smuggling?"

Liz if you're reading this, you are hilarious. 

Day 6: The Road Goes On Forever by Robert Earl Keen

Resolving to stand firm

My week was sandwiched by croup and a borderline ear infection (not mine, but I'd trade in a heartbeat, poor Baby). I felt like I was running a marathon, and I really really hate running. It's times like these that if you're not on your guard, you will get knocked down. And I mean hard.

I debated even writing about this situation, but I really mean for it to encourage. I'm not going into specifics because there's a lot I'd love to share on here, but it is the internet after all and some things I'd just rather share with people face to face.

I have a desire that God's given me, and it's something that I've struggled with lately. The timing is just not right at this very moment, and I'm learning to daily wait on the Lord and to place my hope in Him. This is my new favorite verse:
"Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14

But just because I read or memorize this verse doesn't mean my hope is without opposition. Usually the enemy attacks using Doubt. And it's almost worked, several several times. I start to doubt that desire will ever become a reality, I doubt if that desire is really from God, and I begin to doubt myself.

This week, he changed tactics.

This week, I was approached by someone who struck up a conversation with me, and within minutes, managed to tear a major hole in that hope. And by tear, I mean punched, ripped, and stomped on it. Leading to me having, again, incredible doubt and a serious 8th grade-worthy cry fest. But this time was different. I felt shock, hurt, and confusion that hung on my thoughts throughout the entire morning. At first, I was frustrated at the individual. But as I was processing everything later in the day, it hit me.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

I could not get over how blindsided I had been by the whole conversation, and how it had such an intense affect on me. That's when I realized the game had changed. He was no longer using Doubt; that was becoming ineffective. Now he was using Guilt. You see, the odd thing about the conversation I had was that I agreed with the individual. They shared the same basic thoughts I do on the subject, but it was said in such a way that it leads me to believe it was intended to damage. It "validated" my fears and used my own guilt against me. I feel like this attack was calculated and stronger than ones ever have been in the past.

Long, slightly vague story short, we as Believers need to be at the ready. Satan is fighting a battle he will ultimately lose. Something that I've learned from a recent John Eldridge study (check him out if you haven't heard him before, God speaks mighty truth through this man) is that it is dangerous out there in the world. We are at war. There is good, and there is evil. Marriages are crumbling, parents are failing their children, and many are lulled into a dangerous complacency when it comes to being strong in the Faith. I've been guilty of this myself. So I'm writing this to encourage you. Take heart, have courage when you are being oppressed, when all seems hopeless. Christ came to give us Life! He brings Hope, He brings Healing, and He is right there for you just waiting for you to ask Him in.

I am resolving to stand firm. In Christ.
"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with Truth, and having put on the breastplate of Righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of Faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
Eph. 6:13-17.

I'm still doing the 30 day song challenge, but this song is one of my fav's and is so appropriate for now: Hillsong United -- You'll Come. Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!

My first official Mother's Day was amazing, with just a couple of bumps in the road during the day. Wyatt got sick yesterday with that horrible croup cough I hope he never ever gets again (it scares me every time I hear it), and most of today was spent cuddling him and holding him down while we salined and bulb syringed his nose. He HATES that thing. A week ago, he had a little congestion, and I thought I had tricked him into thinking it was some kind of game. I'd say "Reeeaadddy?!" and he'd hold out his little nose and laugh after I squirted or syringed.
Apparantly that game only lasts a week and really only works when they're snotty but not sick. It took Wade holding down his feet --yes his feet-- and me holding down his arms with my elbows to get all the "junkies" out.
Mother's day present to myself? A nap.

Day 04 - a song that makes you sad
There are two of these, and as I looked them up, they made me too sad to even post them. So I'm just listing them and you can look them up yourself!
1.) Brick by Ben Folds Five: beautiful music, horribly sad lyrics.
2.) Cats In The Cradle by Harry Chapin: A cautionary tale for all you dad's out there! 

Day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
I don't really remember how this song became such a pivotal part of our college lives, but this song always reminds me of Renee, my college roomie and amazing friend. Sometimes when it comes on the radio, I'll still text her the lyrics :). So now that I'm feeling sentimental, I'll spend a quick second talking about her!
Renee was the first friend I met at Tech on the way to my very first class at Tech. Since that first class was Biology and it was being held in the largest classroom on campus (seats 400 people and I almost peed my pants from anxiety just walking in there), we sat by each other. And later laughed at someone tripping at the bottom of the stairs, thankful it wasn't us. Later still we learned that the student was deaf and that I was a horrible, horrible person for laughing.
This is a picture she lovingly made and sent me when we used to IM each other in our apartment.

 

 Obviously, a friendship made to stand the test of time. 

So here's the song that got us through college and that we "sang" during my wedding reception. Love you Fruits!
Feel free to sing along, I know I will :). 

 

I'm cheating...

...and just putting the video on here tonite instead of writing about anything legitimate! Just spent a great evening with great friends, and got home in time to go to bed early; somehow it ended up being after 10 already and WAYY past my bedtime!
One quick fun story: Wyatt's new favorite trick is to grab my throat as hard as he can with his chubby little Man-Hand as I'm bending over to lay him in his crib for the night. Then he laughs like it's the funniest thing ever.
Note to future/new parents: this is NOT in Baby 411. But I'm assuming it's good for developing his hand/eye coordination, and not just for learning how to laugh when Mommy says Ow. Right?!

Day 03 - A Song That Makes You Happy
Oh my goodness, there are too many too count. And if you asked me tomorrow, I'd probably say something different. But this is a classic; always guaranteed to make me dance and sing along!

Please excuse the 80's jackets and hair. This is hands-down one of my favorite songs to two-step to!

Day 2 and Day 1

Day 02 - Your Least Favorite Song

I know, this song is so popular, and she seems so nice and genuine. But! If you have to ask to be "counted in", please don't do it in time with the song. Or rhyme a million things with "toes". Thank you. :)

Congratulations to my sweet friend, Melissa, who gave birth this morning to their beautiful baby girl Sienna Faith! She is truly a miracle; you can read all about Rick and Melissa's incredible journey here.

30 Day Song Challenge!

A few quick updates:

1.) My parents delivered my mom's old sewing machine the weekend of my birthday. I'm hoping to bust it out this weekend and start on projects!

2.) Goal of the week: try to remember how to sew before I start on said projects!

3.) Fabric bundles on Etsy = new way to waste spend my time.

4.) Wyatt likes green beans from the Gerber jars, but not the green beans I steamed, pureed, and froze into ice cubes that will last us 2 weeks. Figures. Some of the food highlights from my pregnancy included Tostino's pizza rolls, double cheeseburgers from McDonald's, and chicken fried steak from Grandy's, so I probably should have seen this coming.

To get myself back in blog mode, I'm doing the 30 day song challenge from Facebook! It sounds like fun, it'll be hard to pick only one song per topic!

Day 01 - Your Favorite Song

(It was going to be Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi, but Wade just ruined it by changing the words to "Livin' on Welfare": "Oh, we're halfway there, Ohhh! Livin' On Welfare! Trade my Food Stamps, for cigarettes and alcohol...") (Hope that wasn't too offensive; since I gave 2 hard years of my life to the beloved welfare office, I always joke out of love. Mostly.)

It was a tough choice, but I have to go with Superstition by Stevie Wonder!
3 thoughts before I go to bed and leave you to enjoy the funk: I love Stevie Wonder. I love Sesame Street. And I love that kid in the red shirt on the balcony.